ABEOKUTA – Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State, will be agog tomorrow as at least 24 young boxers from Ogun State’s four sporting zones are set to compete in the maiden RIYE U17 Boxing Circuit.
The boxing bout will take place on Friday,at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, with organisers assuring participants and spectators of adequate safety and effective coordination.
The competition is organised by Hon. Tunde Delu, Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, under the Young Athletes Yield Initiative (YAYI), with the aim of identifying, nurturing and developing young sporting talents across the state.
Speaking at a press conference held in Abeokuta on Thursday, Hon. Delu said the stage is set for the event, which is expected to provide a platform for discovering and showcasing the next generation of boxing talents in Ogun State.
He explained that the RIYE Sports Circuit was established to identify promising young athletes early, monitor their progress and provide them with the necessary support to develop their potential.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond organising competitions, as it is designed to create a structured pathway for young athletes to grow and excel in their chosen sports.
“The RIYE Sports Circuit is designed to identify young talents early, nurture them and provide a structured pathway for their development. We are not just organising competitions, we are building a system that will give promising athletes the opportunity to grow, improve and represent Ogun State and Nigeria in the future”.
He added that the organisers were committed to ensuring a safe and well-coordinated competition that would encourage the young boxers and promote grassroots boxing in the state.
“We are committed to ensuring that this maiden U17 Boxing Circuit is safe, well-coordinated and rewarding for all participants. Our goal is to encourage these young boxers, promote grassroots boxing and create more opportunities for our youths to excel through sports.”
Hon. Delu recalled that the organisers had earlier staged the RIYE U15 Athletics Championships and disclosed that plans were underway to extend the circuit to other sporting disciplines, including table tennis, gymnastics, scrabble and several others.
Winners of the 12 bouts will each receive ₦100,000 in cash rewards, while the other participating boxers will receive ₦50,000 each. Medals will also be presented to the young competitors.
One of the boxers expected to feature at the event, Anuoluwapo Soyombo, popularly known as Beast, expressed confidence ahead of the competition, promising an exciting display for spectators.
She said she is ready to compete and emerge victorious, adding that she and the other 23 boxers had trained intensively in recent weeks in preparation for the event.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Ogun State Boxing Association and boxing promoter, Coach David Osuolale, assured that the technical and safety requirements for the competition had been adequately addressed.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun State chapter, Comrade Michael Azeez Ogunsiji, and former boxing champion and coach, Sunday Michael, praised the initiative and lauded Hon. Delu for creating opportunities for young athletes to showcase their abilities.
